Causes

In premenopausal women, the source of vaginal bleeding after sex is usually the cervix — the narrow, lower end of the uterus. Even with a completely healthy cervix, enough friction or mild trauma during sexual intercourse can cause some bleeding. Inflammation of the cervix or some other abnormality, most of which are harmless, can also result in bleeding. Sometimes, though, vaginal bleeding after sex is a sign of a sexually transmitted infection.

In postmenopausal women, vaginal bleeding after sex may arise from the opening of the bladder (urethral meatus), the outer opening of the vagina (labia) or the uterus, as well as the cervix.

If you're premenopausal and you have vaginal bleeding after sex once in a while, it probably isn't something to get too worried about. Vaginal bleeding after sex could indicate cervical cancer, but if you've had normal results on routine Pap tests, it's more likely that the bleeding results from a noncancerous (benign) condition.

If you're postmenopausal, however, vaginal bleeding of any sort is abnormal and needs to be evaluated to find the cause. After menopause, vaginal atrophy (atrophic vaginitis) or other conditions associated with vaginal dryness are the most likely causes of vaginal bleeding after sex, but it could also be caused by other, more serious conditions.

Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

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